Tommy has obsessions about cleanliness and is a compulsive hand washer.Which of the following pieces of evidence would support the view that his obsessive-compulsive disorder is related to operant conditioning?
A) Tommy has been rewarded by his parents for hand washing many times, so he continues to engage in the behavior.
B) Tommy sees his brother engage in compulsive hand washing, so he also engages in the behavior.
C) Tommy experiences a large reduction in anxiety whenever he washes his hands, so he continues the behavior whenever he becomes anxious.
D) Tommy believes that hand washing will prevent him from becoming sick.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that Tommy experiences a reduction in anxiety whenever he washes his hands suggests that his behavior is reinforced by a reduction in an aversive state (i.e., anxiety) and therefore relates to operant conditioning. A) might suggest classical conditioning, but the question asks specifically about operant conditioning. B) is more related to social learning theory. D) might be a reason for maintaining the behavior, but it doesn't specifically relate to operant conditioning.

Tommy Has Obsessions About Cleanliness and Is a Compulsive Hand